The Torah bans bribery — so why do our holiest rituals look like payoffs?

We're diving into a provocative topic as we enter the month of Elul - bribes, sacrifices, and cosmic payoffs in Judaism. We explore the tension between Deuteronomy's clear prohibition on bribery and the sacrificial rituals found elsewhere in the Torah that look suspiciously like attempts to curry favor with the divine.

Key Takeaways

1. The language of bribery and ransom intersects with concepts of atonement in Jewish texts
2. Deuteronomy emphasizes internal purification over ritualistic practices
3. Rituals like Kaparot and Tashlich can be viewed as attempts to influence divine judgment

Timestamps

• [00:00:00] Bribery in Torah and the puzzle of Yom Kippur's absence in Deuteronomy
• [00:02:29] Surprising omission of the High Holidays in Deuteronomy
• [00:03:00] Deuteronomy's clear ban on bribery and its implications
• [00:06:20] Ransom, redemption, and the link to atonement
• [00:08:06] Rambam and the scapegoat: is it a bribe to Satan?
• [00:12:00] Rambam's sensitivity: accusations of idolatry and bribery in ritual
• [00:15:05] Yom Kippur as atonement—bribe or genuine repentance?
• [00:17:00] Deuteronomy's alternate vision: inner repentance over ritual
• [00:19:46] The Christian "Ransom Theory" of atonement and Jewish parallels
• [00:23:50] Kapparot, petty bribery, and the danger of cheap rituals

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/